In short: A UGC pitch template only needs six parts: a specific subject line, a one-line opening that proves you looked at the brand, proof of your work, one video idea, a rate-and-usage line and a single call to action. Keep it short, personalise the first line, and follow up once or twice. Below are free copy-and-paste versions for email and DM, aimed at beauty, fashion and personal care brands.
Research the brand before you write
The guides we read agree on one point: generic messages get ignored. One creator-outreach guide advises referring to a specific campaign or product line the brand has launched, and another says to personalise the first line at minimum. Spend ten minutes on each brand you pitch:
- Look at the product page. Is there a video showing the texture, the fit or how it is used? A gap is your idea.
- Check what the brand already posts, so you do not pitch what it has.
- Find the right person and address: a marketing, social or partnerships contact, not a general inbox if you can avoid it.
- Pick one product and one format. “I can make anything” is harder to say yes to.
The UGC pitch template: six parts
Guides differ on detail, but the parts are consistent. One platform’s advice is “one specific idea for their product, one relevant link, one clear rate, under 120 words”.
| Part | What to write | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Subject line | Brand or product name plus your idea | Under ~60 characters |
| Opening | One true, specific detail about the brand | 1 sentence |
| Proof | Who you are, your niche, portfolio link | 1–2 sentences |
| Offer | One video idea: format, length, style | 1–2 sentences |
| Rate and usage | One price, what is included, rights quoted separately | 1–2 sentences |
| Call to action | One easy question | 1 sentence |
UGC pitch subject line examples
One guide suggests including the brand name, keeping the line under 60 characters and avoiding vague openers like “Collaboration Opportunity”. Try:
- UGC video idea for [Product name]
- Texture close-up video for [Brand]’s [product]
- Try-on video idea for [Brand] [collection]
- Question about UGC creators at [Brand]
Keep the subject truthful: it should describe what is actually in the email.
Copy-paste UGC pitch email template
Subject: UGC video idea for [Product name]
Hi [First name],
I’m [Your name], a UGC creator making [skincare / makeup / fashion try-on / personal care] videos. I noticed [one specific, true detail — for example, that the [product] page has no video showing how it is applied].
My idea: a [20–30 second] vertical video with [texture close-up and an honest first impression], filmed by me in natural light, in my own words. [Face on camera / hands only / voice-over.]
Examples of my work: [portfolio link]
My rate is [amount] per video, including [one] revision round. Usage rights are priced by where you would run it (organic, paid ads, how long), so tell me your plan and I will quote.
Would you like me to send a short outline for [product]?
Thanks,
[Name] · [portfolio link] · [email]
Not sure what to charge? See what UGC creators charge, and read UGC usage rights explained before you quote the rights line.
UGC pitch to brands by DM
DMs must be shorter. Say who you are, one idea and where to see your work, then ask permission to send more.
Hi [Brand team]! I’m [Name], a UGC creator in [beauty / fashion]. I’d love to make a [texture close-up / try-on] video for [product]. Examples here: [link]. Who is the right person to send a short outline to?
Follow-up template and how many to send
Advice varies. One guide says to wait a few days to a week for a single follow-up; another suggests 48 hours and then a week later; a third calls two follow-ups a few days apart the “sweet spot” and says most replies come from the first follow-up. A sensible limit is two, then move on.
Subject: Re: UGC video idea for [Product name]
Hi [First name], a quick follow-up on my note about a [product] video. Happy to send a one-line outline if that helps. Portfolio: [link]. If it is not a fit right now, no problem — thanks for reading.
What to attach or link
Link to a portfolio page rather than attaching large files. One guide lists at least three work examples, your contact details and your rates or packages; another suggests three to five pieces across formats, and says spec work with products you already own is fine when starting out. Put the most relevant sample first. See the UGC portfolio checklist and how to become a UGC creator if you are still building yours.
Common mistakes
- Copy-pasting one message to fifty brands without changing the first line.
- Writing about yourself at length instead of about their product.
- Several asks in one email. Use one call to action.
- Attaching heavy files or sending no link at all.
- Hiding the rate, or promising results you cannot control.
- Typos in the brand’s name.
A note on unsolicited email and DMs
Rules for unsolicited commercial messages differ by country and by platform, and this is not legal advice. As one example, the US FTC’s CAN-SPAM guide says the law covers commercial email with no exception for business-to-business messages, and requires accurate sender details and a subject line that reflects the content. We did not review other countries’ rules, so check the ones where you and the brand are based, and follow each platform’s messaging rules.
Where Usicri fits
You can skip cold pitching entirely: on Usicri creators browse open campaigns and see the price, open spots and whether a product is provided before starting. You upload a video, confirming you filmed it yourself, and the brand approves or rejects it.
Creators keep 100% of the payout, paid through Stripe once approved earnings reach 20 USD. Pitching direct and browsing campaigns can sit side by side.
Quick checklist
- One brand, one product, one true detail in the first line.
- Subject line names the brand or product and is under about 60 characters.
- Portfolio link, one idea, one rate, one question.
- Usage rights mentioned, not given away.
- Follow-up scheduled; stop after two.